PhotoCredit: Space
A friend of mine is a big astrology geek. I really enjoy catching up with her and talking star's and moon's. It's about the least scientific I get, except for when I pull out my Tarot cards. Don't quit me yet, logic will prevail - I promise.
In our latest session we talked about Mercury In Retrograde. This is a science "phenomena" that astrology has commandeered. The planet Mercury observably goes into retrograde motion, moving backwards. Well, sort of. The planet does appear to go backwards but it's an illusion based on Mercury's movement versus Earth's position.
This Vox article explains it nicely and has a bonus video of Taylor Swift explaining Mercury In Retrograde.
Tay-Tay aside (which is a potentially career-ending move so I tread carefully here) I do think there is something to learn from MIR. Yeah, I just turned an astrology term into an acronym. (I know, what will I do next?)
2022 has four time periods when Mercury is in retrograde. From a woo-woo standpoint this is a time when communication becomes difficult, technology becomes impossible and negotiations become acrimonious. Or to quote my girl "everything is going to be completely wrong and messed up."
Usually MIR is only three times a year. So, four is potentially not good news people. This could be a hella-messed-up-year.
I see it differently. First, it's not really a thing so feel free to go about your business. Second, and obviously the point I have been building to, it's a useful lens for assessment. The reason I like Tarot - and even on occasions star-sign stuff - is that they are really left-field ways of thinking about yourself and your life. It gets you thinking differently. Maybe examining your life through a lens you don't often think about.
MIR is a great excuse to plan, review, research, think and calm your jets. We don't do enough of this. We all spend way too much time in hustle-mode. All energy, all external, all the time. We miss valuable information and insight.
We can use that to great advantage in 2022. While I expect a recovery-year, I also anticipate some turbulence as we attempt to exit pandemic-life. It will not be a straight line to whatever normal starts to look like. I am personally taking an agile-approach and using the MIR window's to sprint and then review/plan. It's just an aid to a planning cycle. You do you, always. But - if your contract negotiations go sideways, your phone breaks and you start having fights with friend and loved ones...it could be the dreaded Mercury In Retrograde. Though it's more likely just time for a new phone (and maybe friends).